Sudan military leader says new prime minister will be appointed soon

Sudan’s top general, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said the military will soon be appointing a new prime minister after the coup on Monday that ousted the country’s top leaders.

The new prime minister could be appointed in the next few days, the general told Russia’s state-owned Sputnik news agency, The Associated Press reported.

The prime minister will then form a Cabinet that will work with the military as they prepare for new elections, Burhan says.

“We have a patriotic duty to lead the people and help them in the transition period until elections are held,” he told Sputnik. 

The military overthrew Sudan’s transitional civilian-military government on Monday, detaining deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok for a day before releasing him. 

Other political leaders are still in custody and could face trial for allegedly encouraging a rebellion against the military.

Burhan said he took over the country out of fear a civil war would erupt, but the AP notes he was weeks away from having to hand over power to a civilian in a move that would have reduced military control in the country. 

Since the military coup, pro-democracy protests have broken out, including violence. 

The general claims “security forces will not intervene” in the protests if they remain peaceful, according to the AP. 

International condemnation has followed the coup, with President Biden calling on the military to restore the transitional government.

“The Sudanese people must be allowed to protest peacefully and the civilian-led transitional government must be restored,” Biden said.

“The events of recent days are a grave setback, but the United States will continue to stand with the people of Sudan and their non-violent struggle to advance the goals of Sudan’s revolution,” he added.